Harriett Hollister Boynton Knapp

Harriett "Happy" Knapp, RN, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the vernal equinox, March 20, 2025. She was the daughter of the late Roberta Wallace Pearson-Bell and Arthur Cummings Boynton. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard “Rick” Bruce Knapp, MD, and their daughter Laurie.

Happy and Rick met while she was training as a nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. They shared more than 60 years of marriage until his passing in 2014. Together, they established and ran a medical program on the Caribbean island of Barbuda for 13 years. Happy and Rick loved to travel and shared many wonderful adventures around the world.

More than 35 years ago, they moved to Cary to be closer to their growing family. They were incredibly proud of each of their children and grandchildren, often sharing stories of their accomplishments. In the Lochmere community, they formed deep friendships and created cherished memories playing bridge and hosting dinner clubs. Later, they moved to Woodland Terrace, where they treasured the friendships they made and took on leadership roles on the advisory board.

Happy’s passions in life included gardening and music. A master gardener, she took classes at NC State University and volunteered at the JC Raulston Arboretum. She was also one of the founding members of the Lochmere Garden Club.

Music was another great joy in her life. Happy sang with the Sweet Adelines and various church choirs for many years. Her children fondly remember her belting out renditions of Madame Butterfly while doing housework. She also served as a Girl Scout leader, creating cherished memories for her daughters as she led Girl Scout songs with their troop.

Happy is survived by her sister, Deborah Shafto; her son, R. Benjamin Knapp, Ph.D.; her daughters, Carolyn S. Green, RN; and Pamela Townsend, PE, along with her husband, James (Bill) Jenkins, Jr., PE. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Leah Townsend, Ph.D. (Peter Oliver), Charles Townsend, PE (Mikaela), James Jenkins III, Esq. (Melanie), and Hannah Jenkins, as well as four great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 3. Please email pbtj2004@gmail.com for more details.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the MS Society MS Society Giving or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society LLS Giving.

Memorial Tributes and messages of sympathy can be left by clicking the "Add a Memory" box below. Brown Wynne of Cary is honored to serve the Knapp family.